EXTENSIVE WWII USMC FATHER AND SON UNIFORM AND EPHEMERA GROUPING

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/15/2020

This is an extensive WWII USMC grouping that is primarily named to Leo Albert Desotell Jr. with contents from his father, Leo Desotell Sr. and other relatives. The group consists of various uniform pieces, headgear, field gear, captured Japanese equipment, and four envelopes of paperwork. The lot includes Leo Deotell Jr.'s forest green "Alpha" uniform with tunic, pants, overseas hat, and overcoat. The tunic and pants are named to Desotell Jr., while the overcoat is named to B.B. Thompson, however it has matching insignia to the tunic. There is a pair of dress blue trousers which are also named to Desotell Jr. The headgear includes an M1 front seam fixed bale helmet with liner and camouflage mosquito net cover named to G.G. Wheeler, an unnamed spare M1 helmet liner with ghost outline of an EGA, and two pith helmets, one named to Desotell Sr. and the other named to Desotell Jr. The field gear includes a USMC M1923 cartridge belt marked "Boyt 43" named to Mike Desotell, two pistol belts, and a M1911 holster with "Sgt. Desotell U.S. Marines" written under the flap. There is also a salty canteen and mess kit. The Japanese equipment consists of a canteen and cartridge box with small wood jar. The four envelopes of paperwork include documents relating to both Desotell Sr. and Desotell Jr. One envelope contains Desotell Jr.'s discharge paper along with captured Japanese ephemera. Another contains Desotell Sr.'s paperwork including discharge papers, service papers, medical documents stating he fractured his foot at Paris Island, and a 5th Marine Division book. The third envelope contains documents relating to Desotell Jr.'s service including rifle score books, newspapers, and other ephemera. The last envelope contains modern printed photos that show the father and son together in uniform during the war. There is also a disc in this envelope which could be digital copies of the photos. Leo Desotell Jr. was attached to C Battery, Heavy AAA Group, 7th AAA Battalion, 5th Marine Amphibious Corps. It appears Leo Desotell Sr. was in the Marines prior to WWII and reenlisted in the USMCR to serve for the duration of national emergency. Almost every item in this group is named to either Leo Desotell Jr. or Leo Desotell Sr. CONDITION: Uniforms are very clean, with almost no signs of blemishes or mothing, there are dry cleaning tags on some of the clothing articles. Overall very good-excellent. The headgear displays tarnishing and blemishes from overseas use, condition ranges from fair-very good. Field gear displays blemishes from wear and use. Overall good-very good. Ephemera items exhibit rips, tears, and creases that are typical of old paper. Condition ranges from fair-very good. This is a very well documented "time capsule" grouping which is even rarer due to the fact that it is identified to a father and son who both served in the Marine Corps during World War II. JD

Item Dimensions: 19" x 25" x 19"